Improvement in preparing cloth and paper and like fabrics to imitate leather



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. CLARK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN PREPARING CLOTH AND PAPER AND LIKE FABRICS T0 IMITATE LEATHER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 141,118, dated July 22, 1873; application filed July 12, 1873.

CASE A.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. CLARK, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Preparation of Paper or of Cloth, or of Paper and Cloth combined, for use as a Substitute for Leather, of which the following is a specification:

The purpose of this invention is not only to adapt ordinary paper or cloth, or paper and cloth combined, for use in many cases as a substitute for leather, more particularly where leather is employed as a covering or lining for materials, as, for instance, leather itself, wood, pasteboard, &c., in the manufacture of various articles of trade, but also to give to it the color and appearance otherwise of the leather for which it is to be substituted, and to render it, under all practical circumstances, thoroughly proof against injury from water, perspiration, or moisture.

Under this im'ention the sheet material is coated or covered upon either one or both of its surfaces with lithographic ink, so-called, which ink, as to its color, is to correspond to the color of the leather which it is intended to imitate, as, for instance, for morocco or for sheep-skin, green, blue, black, &c. The lithographic ink is applied to the sheet material as follows: First, in the ordinary manner of lithographic printing, apply the lithographic ink to the surface of the stone; then lay the sheet material to be prepared upon the said prepared inksurface of the stone and subject it to the ordinary transfer operation of a lithographic press, thereby transferring the ink from the stone to the sheet material. Now remove the sheet material from the stone, and when its lithographic ink-surface is dry apply with a brush a coating of shellac varnish, or

other suitable water-proof, to both of itssides or surfaces. Y

It is preferable to use a grained or pebble cloth or paper, as a more perfect resemblance to leather is thus obtained; but it is not essential.

The sheet material prepared in accordance with this invention, as before stated, is intended as a substitute for leather, and in use is to be cemented to the article which it is to cover or to line. I

As both sides of the sheet material are water proofed, obviously the moisture, either from the cement used, or from the atmosphere or otherwise, is prevented from injuring its ink-surface, either by softening it or by raisin g or blistering it.

Shellac-varnish is deemed the best waterproof material to use, as it also imparts body and a good wearing-surface.

Although the sheet material has been herein described as prepared with only one coat of lithographic ink, it may be prepared with a series of coats one after another, waiting for each successive coat to properly dry, and also upon either or both sides with more than one coat of water-proof material.

I do not claim, broadly, paper or sheet material printed with lithographic ink; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

Paper or cloth or other suitable sheet material prepared on one or both sides with lithographic ink, and on both sides waterproofed, all substantially as herein described, for the purpose specified.

HENRY A. CLARK.

Witnesses:

ALBERT W. BROWN, J. P. MOELROY. 

